James and Phil Younghusband. AFP file photo
When brothers Phil and James Younghusband take the pitch, there are always three stripes on their feet.
Off the pitch, it’s still the three stripes.
James said growing up, it was all Adidas for him, especially with his favorite player being an Adidas athlete.
“When I was younger, I modeled my game on David Beckham,” the Meralco Sparks, and former national team, midfielder said on Saturday at Sparta Philippines in Mandaluyong City.
James and Phil were on tow for the launch of Adidas’ new boots, the Ace15 and X15.
The brothers tested the two models, which replaced Adidas’ previous flagship cleats—Nitrocharge, F50, 11pro, and Predator.
“It feels good when I’m passing the ball, especially in the inside foot, and when I’m trying to curl,” James, who wore the Ace15, said. “It has a good grip on the ball. I used to wear the Predator which were designed to curl the ball.”
Phil, a striker for the Philippine Azkals and the Sparks, wore the X15 and said the higher cut on the boot gave more stability, comfort, and some added aesthetics.
Unlike his brother James who patterned his game after midfield legend Beckham, Phil went for forwards.
Phil’s favorite players, he said, were French legend Zinedine Zidane and Spanish striker Fernando Torres, though he had to clear which version of Torres he idolized.
“Liverpool and Atletico Madrid Torres,” Phil said, jokingly.
Torres did have incredible seasons with Atletico and Liverpool but became a shell of his former self during his time with Chelsea.
Off the pitch, the brothers still rock the three stripes with James looking for all-white sneakers and some bolder colored ones and Phil settling for classic all-whites.
James said he liked to wear Ultraboosts and Spring Blades outside the pitch as Adidas continued to “come up with hip new shoes, fashionable ones.”
“I like white shoes but I also like those flashy green ones which people notice when you come to a room.”
Phil, as he said, liked the classic designs of the three-stripe brand, citing Superstars and Stan Smiths as his favorites.
“I like the pure whites,” Phil said.
James, as the older one, still maintains the older brother credo of having a better game with a resounding “me” as the answer to the question “who has a better shoe game?”